Triple the fun

Brothers develop special bond with autistic friend; teach him to swim

By William Kibler, bkibler@altoonamirror.com
Lots of parents seek recognition for their kids, but not so many seek it for other people’s kids.

Melanie Lee of Baker Boulevard is an exception: She wants people to know about 9-year-old triplets Josh, Zach and Danny Over of Eldorado.

She’s not without self-interest: The triplets are friends of her son, Sean Walton.

Best friends, Lee says.

Mothers everywhere are pleased to see others get along with their kids, but Lee especially so, because Sean, 14, is autistic.

Sean is “endearing,” she says, “[but] it’s hard to make friends when you’re different and don’t talk.”

The boys became acquainted five years ago when the triplets’ older sister Melanie, 23, started to baby-sit Sean.

He took a shine to them and wanted right away to rub their heads — his signature mode of bonding.

They didn’t mind.

“They clicked,” said Over, who attends St. Francis University in expectation of becoming a physical therapist.

Sean loves to go to Chuckie Cheese, to ride the dragon there, place his head in an opening near the tail and make a funny noise, the triplets say.

The triplets are not embarrassed when people stare.

“Everybody has problems,” Danny said. “He can’t help it.”

Besides, he’s their friend, he said.

“He’s nice,” Zach said. “He’s not mean.”

The triplets’ parents, Pam and Ken — a city firefighter — taught them to accept others, their sister said.

“Treat people like you would want to be treated,” Zach said.

Their friendship gave Sean the gift of swimming. He learned by observing and imitating the triplets.

Sean swims as many as six hours a day — from the time Lee opens the pool in April until she closes it for the winter in October.

He treads water, spins, somersaults.

“He loves it,” Lee says. “Like a baby in the womb.”

He likes to get splashed and watch the boys dunk each other and pretend to beat each other up.

Conversely, they like watching him because he “does stuff other people don’t,” Danny said.

“They just love him for what he is,” Lee said.

They’re special too, she said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.